Bullet ended wash tube for dishwasher

ABSTRACT

An improved wash tube is provided for a dishwasher. The wash tube is mounted on the upper rack and has a first end adapted to be releasably docked with the water manifold in the back of the dishwashing chamber as the rack is moved between the extended loading position and the retracted wash position. The inner end of the wash tube includes a curved cap which increases the docking tolerance and which presents a substantially downwardly oriented water inlet to the wash tube. The cap creates water stagnation adjacent the inlet such that the water velocity is substantially reduced and the pressure increased. The second end of the wash tube is connected to the spray arm which rotates as water is ejected from the spray arm nozzles at increased pressure. The cap allows the wash tube to fully dock into the manifold without obstructing the water inlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Dishwashers typically have upper and lower racks for holdingobjects to be washed. Rotatable spray arms are provided in the chamberfor spraying water onto the objects for cleaning. Often times, one ofthe spray arms is positioned between the upper and lower racks, with awash tube extending between the spray arm and the water manifold in theback wall of the washing chamber. The wash tube is connected to theupper rack and is adapted to dock to and undock from the water manifold,such that the wash tube and spray arm move with the rack between theextended loading position substantially outside of the wash chamber andthe retracted wash position within the wash chamber.

[0002] The docking of the wash tube with the water manifold presentsseveral problems in the prior art. First, the wash tube must be alignedwith the manifold opening to allow for proper docking. While a taperedend on the wash tube has somewhat reduced the docking alignment problem,the flat or planer end of the wash tube still creates alignmentproblems.

[0003] Secondly, the flat end of the wash tube defines an opening orinlet which is in a plane parallel to the water flow in the watermanifold. Thus, the flow of water from the manifold into the wash tubeis not efficient. Also, the water in the wash tube is not at optimalpressure.

[0004] Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is theprovision of an improved wash tube for a dishwasher which overcomes theproblems of the prior art.

[0005] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of abullet ended wash tube to provide improved coupling of the wash tubewith the water manifold in the rear of the dishwasher.

[0006] A further objective of the present invention is the provision ofa wash tube having a first end which couples with the manifold, whereinthe first end includes a cup for directing water from the manifold intothe wash tube.

[0007] Still another objective of the present invention is the provisionof a wash tube having a first end with a downwardly oriented inlet.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of animproved dishwasher wash tube which increases the water pressure fromthe water manifold to the spray arm.

[0009] Still another objective of the present invention is the provisionof an improved dishwasher wash tube which bottoms out on the rear innersurface of the water manifold without restricting the flow of water intothe wash tube.

[0010] These and other objectives will be apparent from the followingdescription of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An improved wash tube is provided for a dishwasher having a washchamber and a rack movable between an extended loading positionsubstantially out of the wash chamber and a retracted cleaning positionwithin the wash chamber. The dishwasher has a water manifold in a rearwall of the wash chamber. The wash tube is mounted to the rack, andextends between the water manifold and a rotatable spray arm forspraying water onto objects to be cleaned. The tube has an elongatedbody with a first end adapted to releasably dock with the watermanifold, and a second end adapted to be mounted to the spray arm. Thefirst end has a bullet-shape so as to provide increased tolerances forthe docking or coupling of the wash tube with the water manifold. Thebullet end includes a downwardly oriented opening so as to define a cupwhich directs water from the manifold into the wash tube at a reducedvelocity and increased pressure. The bullet ended wash tube may engagethe rear wall of the water manifold without obstructing the inletopening which is oriented in a plane perpendicular to the flow of waterthrough the manifold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the wash tube of the presentinvention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wash tube showing the inletand outlet openings of the wash tube.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the wash tube docked with adishwasher fluid manifold and with a spray arm attached to the washtube.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the wash tube coupled to thewater manifold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The improved wash tube of the present invention is generallydesignated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10. The wash tube 10has a body 12 with opposite first and second ends 14, 16, respectively.

[0017] The first end 14 of the wash tube 10 has a bullet shape, as bestseen in FIG. 1, defined by a curved cap 18. The first end 14 has a waterinlet 20, the substantial portion of which is oriented in a horizontalplane, as best seen in FIG. 1. The first end 14 is adapted to be coupledto a docking station 22 in a water manifold 24 located in the rear wallof the washing chamber of the dishwasher. The cap 18 directs the waterfrom the water manifold 24 into the body 12 of the wash tube 10 fordelivery to the spray arm 30. The velocity of the water flow through themanifold is thus decreased to substantially zero when captured by thecap 18 of the wash tube 10, which in turn increases the water pressurethrough the wash tube 10. Thus, the water pressure through the spray onnozzles 32 is increased for enhanced cleaning for the objects in theracks. The curved shape of the cap 18 increases the docking tolerancebetween the wash tube 10 and the opening in the docking station 22.

[0018] As seen in FIG. 4, the first end 14 extends through the dockingstation 22 such that the cap 18 is in close proximity, or engages, therear wall 26 of the manifold 24. When the wash tube 10 is docked withthe manifold 24, the water inlet 20 extends perpendicular to the flow ofwater upwardly through the manifold 24. Thus, the cap 18 may engage theinner surface 26 of the manifold 24 without restricting the flow ofwater into the wash tube 10.

[0019] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the water manifold 24 is shown as having alower opening 25 and an upper opening 27. Such a dual opening manifoldis provided in dishwashers wherein the rack is movable upwardly anddownwardly to accommodate different sized objects to be washed. If thedishwasher has a fixed upper rack, only a single opening need beprovided in the manifold 24 for docking with the wash tube 10.

[0020] The second end 16 of the wash tube 10 includes a downwardlyoriented water outlet 28, as best seen in FIG. 2. The second end 16 isadapted to be coupled to a wash or spray arm 30 in any convenientmanner. The coupling of the second end 16 of the wash tube 10 to thespray arm 30 allows the spray arm 30 to rotate by the force of the watersprayed from the spray arm jets or nozzles 32.

[0021] The body 12 of the wash tube 10 is adapted to be mounted or hungfrom the upper dishwasher rack (not shown) by means of a clip 34. Thebody 12 also includes a flexible bellows-type portion to provideflexibility to the body 12 and enhance docking with the manifold 24.Alignment tabs 38, 40 are shown on the body 12 and generally areprovided to facilitate the manufacturing process for the wash tube 10.The body 12 is curved along its central portion to accommodate a stepdown area in the upper rack for holding larger objects.

[0022] The invention has been shown and described above with thepreferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications,substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intendedspirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seenthat the present invention accomplishes at least all of its statedobjectives.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wash tube for a dishwasher having a washchamber, a rack movable between an extended loading positionsubstantially out of the washer chamber and a retracted washing positionwithin the wash chamber, a water manifold in a rear wall of the washchamber, and a spray arm for spraying water onto objects to be cleaned,the wash tube comprising: an elongated body having a first end adaptedto releasably dock with the manifold and a second end adapted to bemounted to the spray arm; and the first end having a cap to direct waterfrom the manifold to the body.
 2. The wash tube of claim 1 wherein thecap is tapered to facilitate docking of the wash tube into the manifold.3. The wash tube of claim 1 wherein the cap defines a downwardly facinginlet opening for directing water into the body.
 4. The wash tube ofclaim 1 wherein the cap has rearward edge to limit the extent of dockingof the wash tube into the manifold.
 5. The wash tube of claim 1 whereinthe cap has a curved upper surface to reduce the velocity of water flowat the first end of the body and to increase the pressure of water inthe body.
 6. The wash tube of claim 1 wherein the cap extendssubstantially through the manifold.
 7. The wash tube of claim 1 whereinthe body includes a flexible portion to facilitate docking.
 8. The washtube of claim 1 wherein the body includes bellows for flexibility. 9.The wash tube of claim 1 wherein the body is curved along its length.10. The wash tube of claim 1 wherein the second end of the tube includesa downwardly directed outlet opening for directing water into the washarm.
 11. A wash tube for a dishwasher having a wash chamber, a rackmovable between an extended loading position substantially out of thewasher chamber and a retracted washing position within the wash chamber,a water manifold in a rear wall of the wash chamber, and a spray arm forspraying water onto objects to be cleaned, the wash tube comprising: anelongated body having a first end adapted to releasably dock with themanifold and a second end adapted to be mounted to the spray arm; andthe first end having a downwardly directed inlet opening for receivingwater from the manifold.
 12. The wash tube of claim 11 wherein the firstend is adapted to engage a back inner surface of the manifold withoutrestricting water flow into the inlet opening of the first end.
 13. Thewash tube of claim 11 wherein the first end extends over the opening todirect water from the manifold into the inlet opening.
 14. The wash tubeof claim 11 wherein the first end reduces water velocity and increaseswater pressure in the body.
 15. The wash tube of claim 11 wherein thebody includes a flexible portion to facilitate docking.
 16. The washtube of claim 11 wherein the body includes bellows for flexibility. 17.The wash tube of claim 11 wherein the second end of the tube includes adownwardly directed outlet opening for directing water into the washarm.
 18. A wash tube for a dishwasher having a wash chamber, a rackmovable between an extended loading position substantially out of thewasher chamber and a retracted washing position within the wash chamber,a water manifold in a rear wall of the wash chamber, and a spray arm forspraying water onto objects to be cleaned, the wash tube comprising: anelongated body having a first end adapted to releasably dock with themanifold and a second end adapted to be mounted to the spray arm; andthe first end being adapted to engage a back inner wall of the manifoldwithout restricting water flow from the manifold into the tube.
 19. Thewash tube of claim 18 wherein the first end has a downwardly directedinlet opening for receiving water from the manifold.
 20. The wash tubeof claim 18 wherein the first end reduces water velocity and increaseswater pressure in the body.
 21. The wash tube of claim 18 wherein thebody includes a flexible portion to facilitate docking.
 22. The washtube of claim 18 wherein the body includes bellows for flexibility. 23.The wash tube of claim 18 wherein the second end of the tube includes adownwardly directed outlet opening for directing water into the washarm.